Either karma or simple hubris has given me a smackdown: in exchange for bragging to my Ontario friends that I rarely get sick, both M and I have caught this weird, feverish cold complete with cranial pressure that could restore a punctured inner tube. [AUTHOR'S NOTE:  This proved to be a virulent strep throat in between writing this and posting it, details are available here.] It is not in my nature to be able to stay home guilt-free without accomplishing *something*, so I’m lurching around doing the dishes and rewatching Star Trek and trying to let the thoughts and inspirations of the holidays congeal into something intelligible. There were many thoughts and many inspirations so this is a bit daunting: I’ve elected to choose a frame for them that I hope will encompass them all. Good luck, Sjanz.

this is, apparently what little boys are made of

This frame was inspired by an episode of NOVA that my Mom PVRed, about fractals and their applications. If desired, and I recommend it, you can watch the whole thing here. I fell in love with fractals in late elementary school/early high school, and it turns out M did as well, only across the country from me. I felt the whole show was a good primer on how this sort of geometry works, and it also explored what I found the super-fascinating element: how fractal geometry was considered this maverick, outlying concept, voodoo mathematics if you like, when we now consider it quite conventional. That’s an old story, that you can’t keep ‘em down on the mental farm after they’ve see Paree, but I’m going to use the P word and say that the paradigm of fractal geometry represents a guideline for how we are to proceed as a species into the future with any sort of integrity. And not just in math and science, because what I know about true mathematics can be inscribed with a blunt crayon around the inside of a shot glass. No, I’m talking about creativity, spirit, healing and consciousness, and I’m going to try to keep my skull well-attached as I do so, because these are subjects that tend to inflate and become overly grandiose. NOTE: I own no tie-dyed clothing and only one pair of MEC sunglasses that are NOT blue or pink coloured and do not flip up like Dwayne Wayne. I just wanted to make that clear.

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Being sick is for chumps.  I’ve been home for 11 days.  The bright side, if this situation can be said to have a bright side, is that my lying-around-on-the-couch chops are really honed in time for the post-season.  Also, let the record show that yes we overprescribe antibiotics and yes “Western medicine” is scrip-happy, but when you need antibiotics YOU NEED THEM.  I presented with the kind of throat infection that made my dr. say “Eurgh!” when I said “aaaah”.  You get no countercultural points staying at home with a fever.

Now that I’m lucid and mobile enough to prepare my own food, here’s an immune-boosting brothstravaganza that soothes the savage throat.  Inspired by phó but beefless:

In a medium soup pot, bring 8 cups water to a boil with:

3 cloves garlic, skins on, flattened with the side of a knife
2 oz. dried mushrooms [we used chanterelles because that's what we had; shiitake would be even better]
1 thumb sized piece of ginger; peel it, set aside about a knuckle-sized peeled chunk, slice the rest thinly and put the thin slices and the peel in the water

That's what the julienne peeler does for the carrot

3 dried Thai chilis
1/2 tsp white peppercorns
1/2 tsp pink peppercorns
2 tsp coriander seeds
the top and tail of a carrot [you'll need the rest below]
the top and tail and leaves of a celery stick [see below]
the top, tail, and half of a white onion, sliced [now you're gettin' it]
5 stars of star anise
1 tsp whole cloves
1 tsp kosher salt

This whole shootin’ match should be brought to a boil, then lowered to simmer, and simmered for as long as you can stand it or until all the colour has been leached out of your veggies and your whole house smells like star anise. Strain and RESERVE THE LIQUID; throw away the spices and veggies. Set stock aside.

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H/t Oli, who turned us on to the Infinite Cat Project.

If you've ever wondered what Velcro is like, he's like this, only gay.

Happy New Year Metta-heads!  There’s something so epic-sounding about “2010″, isn’t there?  Perhaps it’s an Arthur C. Clarke thing.

We’ve been celebrating the holidays by bringing some old traditions back [Nanaimo bars and football] and welcoming some new traditions [family Rockband tours].  At first it seemed weird to be all hanging out in the living room getting ready to play Skynyrd, but in another way, it was so very right.  It helped me get fired up for the one-time only return of BRF:  The Revenge, and here’s what we grooved to:

“For Those About To Rock [We Salute You]“, AC/DC

“Eye Of The Tiger”, Survivor

“Jump”, Van Halen

THANK YOU ST. LOUIS! OR WHEREVER I AM!

“Don’t Stop Believing”, Journey

“Somebody”, Bryan Adams

“Always On The Run”, Lenny Kravitz and Slash

“Consolers of the Lonely”, The Raconteurs [Jack White came up several times in various conversations on New Years' Eve, which in my flaky way I considered a sign of a synchronicity vortex.  Also, the song is made of win.  It sounds sort of pointy and gristly which made it a perfect choice for binds and Tittbhasana.  Also we think that Jack White and Jack Black should TOTALLY get together and do some sort of arcane project.]

“Have You Ever Been [To Electric Ladyland]“, Hendrix

“All The Young Dudes”, Mott the Hooples

“Simple Man”, Lynyrd Skynyrd

“Thank You”, Led Zeppelin

“Wanted Dead Or Alive”, Bon Jovi

“Easy”, Faith No More [by way of the Commodores]

“More Than Words”, Extreme

“Across the Universe”, Beatles